Bore in the Darkness of Our Hair

after SZA

By Maya Williams

2025

Our hair

is tied to us.

Our hair is tied

to us.

Our hair is

tied

to us.

–

For plants on Earth to grow,

it is not only the sunlight 

that caresses the seed;

it is the night of the soil 

caressing its germination.

If there’s another universe, please make some noise

for the tendrils and tangles of onyx reaching out

scaffolding from a surplus of scalps

ornamented in renewable crystals, rocks, and shine. 

For humans on Earth to grow,

we can do without the trauma;

but we still need the darkness, 

which deserves more

credence than we give it. 

If there’s another universe, please give us a sign

beyond the shadows 

bouncing from bead to bead,

bouncing from braid to braid. 

For light to be released 

from its trappings

it needs darkness 

for its beauty to refract. 

If there’s another universe,

can that universe hold our darkness too?

–

Our hair is

an altar

for our ancestors.

Our hair is an altar

for our ancestors. 

Our hair is an altar for our ancestors.

–

For creatures on earth to grow

empathy must rise

to chomp imperialism out of us.

Chomp assimilation out of us. 

Sustain the fillings of our histories we still have. 

If there’s another universe,

can it give us our histories back?

Or is our hair one of the few histories

we have remaining? 

For creatures on earth to grow

empathy must rise

to chomp colonialism out of us.

Chomp toxic positivity out of us.

Sustain the reflections of what’s natural for us. 

In this universe

we must braid 

and bore into our braids

to remember

and stay tied.